Boring apparatus whose opening is adjustable



Dec. 10, 1963 3,113,s29=

BORING APPARATUS WHOSE OPENING IS ADJUSTABLE P. JEAN-MARIE T. ALLARD 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2, 1961 l x llvllllili:

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10., 19.63 I P.JEANMARIEIT. ALLARD 3,113,629:

BORING APPARATUS moss OPENING I s ADJUSTABLE Filed May 2, 1961 I 2Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent M 3,113,529 BOG APPARATUS WHGSEOPENING IS ADRJEHABLE Pierre Jean-Marie Theodore Allard, Paris, France,as-

signor to Soeiete Francaise de Construction de Bennes AutomatiquesBenoto, Paris, France, a French body corporate Filed May 2, 1961, Ser.No. 107,252 Claims priority, application France Nov. 29, 1960 7 (Ilaims.(Cl. 175-238) The invention relates to an apparatus for boring orforming pits of the type comprising, on the one hand, an uppertransverse element to which are pivoted the upper ends or" two lateralarms and, on the other hand, a vertically movable lower central block towhich are pivoted two cooperating grab shells which are also pivoted tothe lower ends of said arms.

The object of the invention is to provide a boring apparatus of thistype which is capable of forming bores or pits of a plurality ofdiiferent diameters without alteration of the main elements of theapparatus, the apparatus being adapted for the desired boring diameterby the simple addition or removal of very easily mounted or dismountedaccessories.

The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from theensuing description, with reference to the accompanying drawings towhich the invention is in no way limited.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the apparatus according to theinvention, the shells being in fully open position;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along line 22 of PEG. 1,looking upwardly;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view in side elevation taken alongline 4i4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lower part of theapparatus showing the shells in a fully open position wherein theopening is greater than that shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the upper portion of theapparatus showing a modification wherein a link member shown in FIG. 1has been replaced by meshing teeth.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the apparatus comprises anupper transverse beam 1 to which are pivoted at 2" and 2 vertical arms 3and 3 These arms have an outer lateral portion of curved cross-sectionalshape so that the assembly of these two arms has a substantiallycylindrical configuration the diameter of which approximates thediameter of the bore formed by the apparatus so as to guide the latterduring boring. Each of these arms 3 or 3 comprises (FIG. 2) laterallyinwardly projecting web portions 4 and 5 for arm 3 and 4 and 5 for arm 3These web portions are interconnected by cylindrical segmental portions6 and 6 of arms 3 and 3 respectively.

These arms have a large mass thus rendering the apparatus veryheavy-necessary to enable the latter to effect the required boringoperationand strong so that it resists the shocks to which it issubjected.

The apparatus further comprises a central lower block 7 provided with alower transverse portion 8 having a lower face 8*. Pivoted to this blockat 9 and 9 are two cooperating grab shells 10 and 10* which areadditionally pivoted at 11 and 11 to the lower ends of the arms 3 and3*.

These shells are positively interconnected for simultaneous rotation inopposite directions by two couplings 3,113,629 Patented Dec. 10, 1963 2each of which comprises two meshing gear sectors 12 12 In the openposition shown in FIG. 1, the shells 10 10 bear, on the one hand,through the medium of inner abutting portions 13 13 against the lowerface 8 of the transverse portion 8 either by direct contact or throughthe medium of a removable abutment block 14 fixed under the portion 8 bybolts 15*, 15 and, on the other hand, through the medium of their outerabutting portions 16 and 16 against abutting portions 17*, 17 providedat the lower part of the arms 3 and 3 this bearing being through themedium of removable abutment blocks 18 18* which are fixed to the shellsby, for example, screws 19'.

The central block 7 is connected through the medium of a pin Ztl to alower beam 21 within which is disposed a part of a closing mechanism.The closing mechanism comprises two pulley 22 22 mounted on the upperbeam 1, the rotational axes of these pulleys coinciding with the axes ofthe pivotal mountings 2 and 2 of the arms 3 and 3 and three otherpulleys 23 24, and 23 mounted in the lower beam 21. A cable 25constituting the closing cable of the apparatus passes in successionround the pulleys 24, 22 23 23 and 22 and is fixed to a fork 26 providedwith an adjusting device 27 comprising a screwthreaded rod 28, a nut 29by means of which the tension of the cable is regulated and a lock-nut30 which permits locking the device in position when the cable is taut.The end of the cable 25 comprises a loop 25 through which extends a pin31 whose ends extend through a pair of apertures 32 provided in thesides of the fork 26. The latter is provided with another pair ofapertures 33 which have the same cross-section as the apertures 32 andwhich are alternatively capable of receiving the pin 31.

The pulleys 22 and 22 and the cable 25 are protected from fallingmaterial broken oif from the wall of the bore by means of downwardly andoutwardly slop ing sheet metal guard members 1 fixed to the beam 1.

The webs of the arm 3 are connected to those of the arm 3* by a link 34pivoted at 35 to the arm 3 and at 36 to the arm 3 The link 34 constrainsthe arms 3 and 3 to move symmetrically in opposite directions withrespect to the vertical center line of the apparatus. The link 34 thusprevents the apparatus from collapsing laterally by a parallelogram linktype of displacement about pivots 2 2*, 11 and 11 when the apparatusrests on the ground with the grab shells 10 and 10 partially open.

The apparatus comprises a hooking head 37 which has a ring 38 and issuspended by a yoke 39 from chains 46, 1

this suspension shackle being conventional and therefore requiring nodetailed description. It is clear that, when an upward pull is exertedon the cable 25, the lower beam 21 will tend to move upward, towards theupper beam 1; the central block '7 is thus drawn upwardly and the pivots9 9 are also drawn upwardly therewith; the shells 10 and 10 thus rotateabout the pivots 11 11 and the grab closes.

In opening the grab, when the cable 25 is relaxed, the

lower beam 21, the central block 7 and the pivots 9 9 ting portions 1717 of the arms 3*, 3 and, on the other hand, of the inner abuttingportions 13 13 of the shells 10 and 10 with the central abutment block14.

When the apparatus is intended to bore at the smallest boring diameter,it is arranged in the above-indicated manner shown in FIG. 1, theabutting portions 13 and 13 of the shells resting against the lower faceof the abutment block i4 which bears against the lower element 8, andthe abutment-blocks 18 and 18 of the shells bearing against theabutments 17 and 17 at the lower ends of the arms.

When it is desired to bore at the largest boring diameter, in accordancewith an important feature of the invention the abutment blocks 18* and18 carried by the shells are removed and the abutment block 14 isreplaced by another abutment block 14a (FIG. 5) which has such a shapethat the shells, when open, rest, on the one hand, against the abutmentblock 14A and, on the other hand, directly against the abutting portions17 17 of the arms 3 3".

It will be understood that this arrangement permits increasing the anglebetween the shells in their fullyopened position. The shape of theshells is such that when this angle is increased, the overall lateralsize of the apparatus increases, these shells having the position shownin FIG. 5. In this Way there is obtained a boring apparatus which iscapable of effecting a boring operation having a diameter greater thanthat which the apparatus arranged as shown in FIG. 1 is capable ofeffecting.

The boring apparatus may utilize a set of removable abutment blocks suchas the abutment block 14A, whose shapes and sizes are different, and aset of abutment blocks similar to the abutment blocks 13 18* but havingdifferent thicknesses, thereby providing a range of different values forthe fully open angle between the shells and consequently a range ofdifferent boring diameters.

Owing to the change in the abutment blocks as shown in FIG. 5, the lowerbeam 21 connected to the block 7 through the medium of the pin mustdescend lower than in FIG. 1 making it necessary to extend the length ofthe pulley block cable 25. To this end, the pair of apertures 33provided in the fork 26 are used, thereby shifting the attachment pin 33of the cable which is equivalent to extending the length of the cable.

The guiding of the head of the boring apparatus in the bore with theshells open to the maximum diameter shown in FIG. 5 is preferablyobtained by means of detachable guide elements in the form of shoes 43*,43* which are shown in dot-dash line in FIGS. 1 and 2 and are fixed onthe cylindrical segmental portions 6 6 of the arms 3 3 by bolts 44 44.In FIG. 1, various shoes 43*, 43 for different boring diameters areindicated in dotted lines. In FIG. 2, only a single size for shoes 43 43has been indicated, the shoes being suitable for use with the fully openposition of the shells as shown in FIG. 5.

The toothed gear sectors 12 12 positively maintain the common veritcalaxis of the lower beam 21 and the central lower block 7 perpendicular toa plane passing through the lower edges of the shells 10 and 16 In themodification of the invention shown in FIG.6, the link 34 is replaced bya gearing comprising toothed elements 41 and 42, one of these elementshaving two teeth and the other element a single tooth. The elements 41and 42, like the link 34, constrain the arms 5 and 3 to movesymmetrically in opposite directions with respect to the vertical axisof the apparatus.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, manymodifications and changes may be made therein without departing from thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

In particular, the scope of the invention is not limited to the boringapparatus having a single closing cable and openable by means of thering of the type described and shown. The devices are similar when itconcerns a boring apparatus comprising a closing cable and an openingcable, but in this case means for fastening the opening cable in theknown manner must be provided on the beam.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. Earth boring apparatus comprising an upper transverse member, twolateral vertical arms whose upper ends are pivoted to said transversemember, a central lower block, two cooperating grab shells, inner pivotmeans pivotally connecting said shells with said lower block, outerpivot means pivotally connecting said shells respectively to the lowerends of said arms, and cable-andpulley means operatively connected withsaid upper transverse member and said lower block; a transverse portionsolid with said lower block and having a lower face, a pair of innerabutting portions on the shells, said inner abutting portions being,when the shells are in fullyopened position, substantially in verticalalignment above said inner pivot means and in facing relation with saidlower face of said transverse portion; a pair of outer abutting portionssolid with the lower ends of said lateral arms, a pair of outer abuttingsurfaces on said shells, said outer abutting surfaces being, when theshells are in fully-opened position, in facing relation with said pairof outer abutting portions; inner abutment means removably disposedbetween said lower face of said transverse portion and said pair ofinner abutting portions of said shells, and outer abutment meansremovably disposed between said outer abutting portions of said arms andsaid outer abutting surfaces of said shells.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lateral arms have suchcurved sectional shape that the assembly constituted by said two lateralarms has a substantially cylindrical shape.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said arms comprisesa portion having a substantially semi-cylindrical shape and two planelongitudinal webs and said apparatus comprises a link whose ends arepivotably connected to said webs and interconnect said arms.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arms are interconnectedthrough the medium of a pair of intermeshed toothed sectors solid withsaid arms.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cableand-pulley meansconsists in a closing mechanism comprising a cable passing round apulley block; said pulleyblock comprising: a lower beam pivotallyconnected with said lower-block, a pair of upper pulleys rotativelymounted in said upper transverse member, lower pulleys rotativelymounted in said lower beam, a fork attached to a fixed point of saidlower beam, and shiftable attachrfnent means for attaching one end ofsaid cable to said ork.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising shoes removablyfixed to the outer face of the arms toward the upper end of the latterso as to guide the upper end of the apparatus in the bore when theshells are opened to their maximum diameter.

7. Earth boring apparatus comprising an upper transverse member, twolateral vertical arms whose upper ends are pivoted to said transversemember, a central lower block, two cooperating grab shells, inner pivotmeans pivotally connecting said shells with said lower block, outerpivot means pivotally connecting said shells respectively to the lowerends of said arms, cable-andpulley means operatively connected with saidupper transverse member and said lower block; a transverse portion solidwith said lower block and having a lower face, a fair of inner abuttingportions on the shells, said inner abutting portions being, when theshells are in fullyopened position, substantially in vertical alignmentabove said inner pivot means and in facing relation with said lower faceof said transverse portion; a pair of outer abutting portions solid withthe lower ends of said lateral arms, a pair of outer abutting surfaceson said shells, said outer abutting faces being, when the shells are infully-opened position, in facing relation with said pair of outerabutting portions; an inner abutment block removably fixed to said lowerface of said transverse portion to be engaged by said pair of innerabutting portions of said shells in the fully-opened position of said 5shells, and a pair of outer abutment blocks removably fixed on saidouter abutting faces of said shells to be engaged by said outer abuttingportions of said arms in the fully-opened position of said shells.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBarnard Sept. 21, 1920 Wild Oct. 8, 1929

1. EARTH BORING APPARATUS COMPRISING AN UPPER TRANSVERSE MEMBER, TWOLATERAL VERTICAL ARMS WHOSE UPPER ENDS ARE PIVOTED TO SAID TRANSVERSEMEMBER, A CENTRAL LOWER BLOCK, TWO COOPERATING GRAB SHELLS, INNER PIVOTMEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID SHELLS WITH SAID LOWER BLOCK, OUTERPIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID SHELLS RESPECTIVELY TO THE LOWERENDS OF SAID ARMS, AND CABLE-ANDPULLEY MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITHSAID UPPER TRANSVERSE MEMBER AND SAID LOWER BLOCK; A TRANSVERSE PORTIONSOLID WITH SAID LOWER BLOCK AND HAVING A LOWER FACE, A PAIR OF INNERABUTTING PORTIONS ON THE SHELLS, SAID INNER ABUTTING PORTIONS BEING,WHEN THE SHELLS ARE IN FULLYOPENED POSITION, SUBSTANTIALLY IN VERTICALALIGNMENT ABOVE